Bexley High School
Encyclopedia
Bexley High School is a public high school located in Bexley, Ohio
Bexley, Ohio
Bexley is an affluent suburban city in Franklin County, Ohio. Founded as a village over a hundred years ago, the City of Bexley is an old, tree-lined suburb of Columbus, the state capital of Ohio, situated on the banks of Alum Creek next to Driving Park and Wolfe Park, just east of the Franklin...

, an affluent suburb of Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...

. It is in the Bexley City School District
Bexley City School District
The Bexley City School District is located in Bexley, Ohio and contains five schools. The largest school is Bexley High School which is the only high school in the city of Bexley. There is also one Middle School attached to the high school called Bexley Middle School. There are a total of three...

. In school year 2008-2009, BHS earned the second highest Performance Index score of any public high school in the state of Ohio. The graduation rate for the 2009-10 school year was 99.5%. Its principal is Harley Williams.

Performance

In school year 2008-2009, BHS earned the second highest Performance Index (PI) score of any public high school in the state of Ohio. In school year 2009-2010, BHS earned the 11th best PI score of any grade 9-12 high school in the state as well as the 3rd best average ACT score of any high school in the state. The Bexley City School District is one of the top 5% in the nation based on test scores.

Awards

  • Bexley High School achieved an Excellent rating from the Ohio Department of Education for the 2009-2010 school year, meeting 12 of 12 indicators based on test scores, attendance and graduation rate.

Athletics

Bexley runs a comprehensive athletics program, including teams in the following areas: Basketball, Baseball, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track, Volleyball and Wrestling. Bexley purchased artificial grass instead of regular grass for athletes to perform on in the winter of 2003. Teams have won Ohio High School Athletic Association
Ohio High School Athletic Association
The Ohio High School Athletic Association is the governing body of athletic programs for junior and senior high schools in the state of Ohio...

 State Championships in:
  • Girls Soccer- 2009
  • Boys Basketball - 1983
  • Boys Soccer – 2003,2005
  • Girls Volleyball
    Volleyball
    Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...

     – 1977
  • Girls Tennis (OTCA)- 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978
  • Boys Tennis (OTCA)- 1975

Athletic Director

Molly Feesler is the Athletic Director at Bexley City Schools following the resignation of John Morgan (who had been director since 2002). Mr. Morgan has taken the assistant principal position at Central Crossing High School. Ms. Feesler comes to Bexley with 20+ years of experience as a teacher, coach and administrator. Ms. Feesler holds a Master of Education from Ohio University and Educational Administration Licensure from Ashland University in Columbus. She has taught Mathematics in the Pickerington Local School District since 2000. Prior to her service in Pickerington, Ms. Feesler was Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at St. Francis DeSales High School in Columbus. DeSales won six state championships during her five year tenure as Athletic Director.

Football program

In 2007, the Bexley Lions football hired John Smith, former Head Coach at Springfield High School (New Middletown, Ohio which is in northeastern Ohio near Youngstown). Heading into his fifth year of coaching the lions John Smith has gone 17-24 (.415) including Bexley's first playoff game in school history on November 1, 2008.

Recent Football Rival Scores

  • Columbus Academy
    Columbus Academy
    Columbus Academy is a selective, independent college-preparatory school for students from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade. The private school is located on a large, secluded campus surrounded by wooded areas in Gahanna, Ohio in the United States, 8 miles from downtown Columbus. The Academy was...

     50-7 Academy, 10/15/10
  • Licking Valley
    Licking Valley High School
    Licking Valley High School is a public high school in Hanover, Ohio that is overseen by district superintendent David Hile. It is the only high school in the Licking Valley Local School District...

     62-14 Licking Valley, 10/29/10
  • Bishop Hartley
    Bishop Hartley High School (Columbus, Ohio)
    Bishop Hartley High School is a private, Catholic high school located in Columbus, Ohio. The school is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus, and serves the East side of Columbus. It is a coeducational high school and typically has an enrollment between 600 and 700 students...

     54-7 Bishop Hartley, 9/10/10
  • Whitehall Yearling High School 28-14 Whitehall, 9/16/10
  • St. Charles
    Saint Charles Preparatory School
    Saint Charles Preparatory School is a four-year college preparatory school in Columbus, Ohio. It was founded in 1923 by the fourth Bishop of Columbus, James J. Hartley, as a Roman Catholic college seminary...

     28-18 Bexley, 8/29/08

Volleyball Program

After another disappointing season in 2009, it is clear that Bexley Volleyball is not where it wants to be. After setting a school record for wins in the 2007 season, going 25-2, Bexley has not had any successful seasons since. Reasons for this include poor team chemistry and mourning the loss of their hugely successful 2007 senior and junior class.

Soccer program

Both the Men's and Women's soccer programs are outstanding, and are widely known around the state and region. Between the men and the women they have combined for 12 State Final Fours since 1999.

The Men's team has won two state championships in its history (2003 and 2005) and have had multiple Final Four and Regional Final finishes. They have also had a flurry of All District, All State, and All Americans recipients. The Men's program won their league championship for 15 straight seasons, until the streak was snapped in 2008. The team is currently coached by former Bexley player and OWU graduate Greg Kullman.

The Women have been one of the most consistent teams, regardless of sport (in the state) since coach Scott Dempsey took over. They were state finalists in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006,State Runner-Ups in 1999, and State Champions in 2009 (although they were defeated in the championship game, the opposing team was playing with an ineligible player, forcing them to forfeit the championship). The Women have also had multiple All District, All State, and All American recipients.

Rivals

Bexley's most hated opponent is the Columbus Academy
Columbus Academy
Columbus Academy is a selective, independent college-preparatory school for students from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade. The private school is located on a large, secluded campus surrounded by wooded areas in Gahanna, Ohio in the United States, 8 miles from downtown Columbus. The Academy was...

 Vikings. This rivlary stems from Columbus Academy being just eight miles from Bexley High School before Academy's move to Gahanna,Ohio. Other rivals of Bexley include the Licking Valley
Licking Valley High School
Licking Valley High School is a public high school in Hanover, Ohio that is overseen by district superintendent David Hile. It is the only high school in the Licking Valley Local School District...

 Panthers, the Bishop Hartley
Bishop Hartley High School (Columbus, Ohio)
Bishop Hartley High School is a private, Catholic high school located in Columbus, Ohio. The school is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus, and serves the East side of Columbus. It is a coeducational high school and typically has an enrollment between 600 and 700 students...

 Hawks, the Whitehall Yearling High School Rams and the St. Charles
Saint Charles Preparatory School
Saint Charles Preparatory School is a four-year college preparatory school in Columbus, Ohio. It was founded in 1923 by the fourth Bishop of Columbus, James J. Hartley, as a Roman Catholic college seminary...

 Cardinals.

Clubs

  • Art Club
  • Bexleo (Year Book)
  • ISO (Language)
  • Ski Club
  • Environmental Club
  • Book Club
  • Key Club
  • The Lamplight
  • In The Know
  • Latin Club - functions as a local chapter of both the Ohio Junior Classical League (OJCL) and National Junior Classical League
    National Junior Classical League
    The National Junior Classical League is a youth organization of secondary school students sponsored by the American Classical League...

     (NJCL).
  • Student Council
  • Debate Club
  • Philosophical Discourse Syndicate
  • Ping Pong Club
  • Lion eNews
  • Band
  • Choirs: Men's Glee, Women's Glee, Men's Chorus, Symphonic Choir, Women's Chorale, and Vocal Ensemble
  • Orchestra: Concert Orchestra, Bexley Sinfonia
  • Drama Club
  • Junior Statesmen of America
  • LARP (Live Action Role Playing) Club
  • Chess Club
  • Ultimate Frisbee

Choral Program

The Choral program at Bexley High School has been extremely successful for the past decade. The Choral department is broken up into 5 separate choirs. Each choir has a distinct difference from the next, and each focus on different things. All five choirs are directed by Amy Blosser and accompanied on the piano by Casey Cook-Westfall.

Men's/Women's Glee

Men's and Women's glee are the "entry" choirs of the five. These two choirs focus on basic music theory and sight-reading of short, simple pieces of music. Another focus of Men and Women's Glee is tone quality, as in earlier choirs this was not stressed and in cases, not mentioned at all. The members of the two Glee choirs are mostly first year freshman, unless an older student is trying out choir for the first time. Also, rare exceptions have been made where participants are "held back" in Men's or Women's Glee as they are not ready to progress.

Symphonic Choir

The Symphonic Choir is considered to be the only mid-level choir of the five. (Men's and Women's glee being the lowest, and Women's Chorale and Vocal Ensemble being the elite.) The main focus while in Symphonic Choir is leaving the lower level music and progressing to tougher music to sight-read. Symphonic Choir is usually the student's first opportunity to be in a mixed choir, and the learning curve of this task is also stressed. The majority of Symphonic members are second year choral members, with exceptions of first year members who are either selected because of a schedule conflict, or the feeling by the director that they are too talented to begin in Men's or Women's Glee.

Women's Chorale

An all women's choir, Women's Chorale is the first of the two elite choirs in Bexley High School. There are students who participate in both the Vocal Ensemble, and Women's Chorale. This is usually very rare, with only three students attempting this in the 2009-2010 school year. Women's Chorale has performed very well recently at the OMEA
Ohio Music Education Association
The Ohio Music Education Association is the Ohio state-level affiliate of MENC: The National Association for Music Education. Of the 52 federated state affiliates of MENC, the OMEA is the third largest and is the only state-level affiliate chartered as a "music education association" rather than...

 District and State competitions in the A category, most recently receiving a "Superior" rating, the highest rating. Members of Women's Chorale tend to either be third year students just coming out of the Symphonic Choir, second year members who performed very well in Women's Glee, and a few fourth-year members.

The Vocal Ensemble

The most prestigious choir in the Bexley High School choral program, it is the goal of most members of the choral program to make it into the Vocal Ensemble. Vocal Ensemble performs in the SSAATTBB (Two Soprano, two Alto, two Tenor, and two Bass sections) format. The Vocal Ensemble has been dominant in the recent years in the OMEA
Ohio Music Education Association
The Ohio Music Education Association is the Ohio state-level affiliate of MENC: The National Association for Music Education. Of the 52 federated state affiliates of MENC, the OMEA is the third largest and is the only state-level affiliate chartered as a "music education association" rather than...

 competitions since Amy Blosser became the choral director. Competing in the AA category, the highest category, they have received a "Superior" rating (the highest rating possible) the last 5 years at the competitions. Members of The Vocal Ensemble are well known for their dedication to the choir, as most of the members also participate in the Autumn play and the Spring musical. Every year the choir travels on tour to either a place in the country, or as in every three years, they tour overseas. The 2007 tour was to Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

. The 2008 tour was to Chicago, Illinois, and their 2010 tour is to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

 to sing in the legendary Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....

. In their overseas tour in the summer of 2006, the choir traveled to various nations in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

. The Vocal Ensemble is not unlike a high school varsity football team in that, after every year they lose a significant amount of members because of graduation. The Men's section of the group has lost a significant amount of their members after the 2006-2007 school year as only one member of both Bass sections remains. Because of this, a large amount of men who were either first or second year members in the 2006-2007 year were accepted as members of The Vocal Ensemble for the upcoming year. Despite these losses, the 2007-2008 Vocal Ensemble still posted unanimous "Superior" ratings at the 2008 state competition. Members of the Vocal Ensemble can range from a second year member who was outstanding in their first year, to third and fourth year choral members. The 2008-2009 Vocal Ensemble toured across Europe in Vienna, Austria, where they sang in the famous St. Stephen's Cathedral
St. Stephen's Cathedral
St. Stephen's Cathedral may refer to any of the following:-France:*Agde Cathedral*Auxerre Cathedral*Bourges Cathedral*Châlons Cathedral*Limoges Cathedral*Meaux Cathedral*Metz Cathedral*Sens Cathedral*Toulouse Cathedral*Toul Cathedral...

, Budapest, Hungary, and Krakow, Poland. The posting of the members of Vocal Ensemble for the upcoming year is very anticipated by most choir members, and has the possibility of being the highlight of a student's high school career.

Men's Chorus

This extracurricular group is made up of men from the Vocal Ensemble and Symphonic Choir. They sing at school functions and some community events as well. They rehearse at the school on weekends and do not receive high school academic credit for participation in the group.

Band Program

From 1979 to 2007, Jeffrey Schneider was the long-term director of bands at Bexley High School. Following his retirement, the Bexley High School Band is currently under the direction of Andrew Johnson with Assistant Director William Yale Manchester.

Marching Band

High School Band consists of three separate fields of study starting with the Marching Band during the football season. Students will learn to play various styles of music including rock, pop, funk, and blues while learning to march and play at the same time. Marching Band is a Co-Curricular Board of Education supported class, which follows district policies and students receive a grade for the class. The marching band is also featured in Bexley's 4th of July
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...

 Parade and Veteran's Day Parade in Downtown Columbus. The band has also performed in Orlando, FL for the Disney Parade.

Concert Band

Concert Band begins at the conclusion of the football season. Students will learn to play various styles of music and instruments that are not available for Marching Band. Concerts are graded performances, including OMEA
Ohio Music Education Association
The Ohio Music Education Association is the Ohio state-level affiliate of MENC: The National Association for Music Education. Of the 52 federated state affiliates of MENC, the OMEA is the third largest and is the only state-level affiliate chartered as a "music education association" rather than...

 Contests, and opportunities for OMEA
Ohio Music Education Association
The Ohio Music Education Association is the Ohio state-level affiliate of MENC: The National Association for Music Education. Of the 52 federated state affiliates of MENC, the OMEA is the third largest and is the only state-level affiliate chartered as a "music education association" rather than...

 Solo and Ensemble. The Concert Band is a Co-Curricular, Board of Education supported class where students receive a grade and credit for participation. Students must have participated in the Marching Season or have special permission from the Director to be eligible for participation in the Concert Band.

Pep Band

Pep Band is a rewarding, low stress opportunity to perform for Men's and Women's home Varsity Basketball games. Students will perform various styles of music including rock, pop, funk, and jazz. Pep Band is considered an extension of the Concert Band where performances/attendance are graded. Grades will be based on percentages of participation as it has in previous years.

Jazz Band

Jazz Band meets in the evenings on a volunteer basis. The Jazz Band performs in the evenings, usually on the same evenings as the Concert Band. Musicians will learn to play and listen to various jazz styles and performers. No experience is necessary to join the Jazz Band and most instruments are accepted in the Jazz Band.

Orchestra

Since 2003, Sandra Crandall has been the director of the Bexley High School Orchestra. Orchestra is split up into two classes: Concert Orchestra, which is the entry-level orchestra and Sinfonia Orchestra, which is the highest level performance group in the orchestra program at Bexley. During the summer, is Orchestra Camp (parallel to Band Camp, which occurs at the time) which has been in session since 1975.

Concert Orchestra

The Bexley Concert Orchestra is a high school entry level group. This ensemble concentrates on building the necessary technical skills for an advanced performance level. The class meets daily and is assessed quarterly. Playing tests, class participation, class preparation, home practice and concert attendance are all assessment criteria. Membership is open to all high school students who play stringed instruments. Bexley Concert Orchestra members are encouraged to participate in OMEA solo and ensemble contest and participate in OMEA
Ohio Music Education Association
The Ohio Music Education Association is the Ohio state-level affiliate of MENC: The National Association for Music Education. Of the 52 federated state affiliates of MENC, the OMEA is the third largest and is the only state-level affiliate chartered as a "music education association" rather than...

 large group orchestra state contest as an ensemble. Attendance at all performances is required.

Bexley Sinfonia

Bexley Sinfonia is the highest level performance group in the orchestra program. The ensemble performs complex and difficult orchestral literature. The class meets daily and is assessed quarterly. Playing tests, class participation, class preparation, home practice and concert attendance are all assessment criteria. Membership is selective and based upon student audition. Music selection will cover a wide variety of styles. Bexley Sinfonia members are encouraged to participate in OMEA
Ohio Music Education Association
The Ohio Music Education Association is the Ohio state-level affiliate of MENC: The National Association for Music Education. Of the 52 federated state affiliates of MENC, the OMEA is the third largest and is the only state-level affiliate chartered as a "music education association" rather than...

 solo and ensemble contest and perform at OMEA
Ohio Music Education Association
The Ohio Music Education Association is the Ohio state-level affiliate of MENC: The National Association for Music Education. Of the 52 federated state affiliates of MENC, the OMEA is the third largest and is the only state-level affiliate chartered as a "music education association" rather than...

 large group orchestra state contest. They are also members of the Bexley Full Orchestra. This class requires occasional rehearsals outside of the school day. Two unexcused absences from performances may result in dismissal from the group. Attendance at all performances is required.

Bexley alma mater

To Alma Mater Bexley

To Thee our praise we bring

To thee whose hallowed halls we tread

Our toast to thee we sing

Tho' friends and hopes may fade away

Our blue and white will live forever

And as the season swiftly go,

Thy name and praise shall ring.

Bexley honor

(written by Bexley resident Dr. Jules Duga)

Go Bexley Lions down the field

Bring honor to your name

And fight the battle for us all

It's ever onward in the game.

We'll back
Back
- People :* Adam Back, British cryptographer* Charles Back, South African winemaker* Chris Back , Australian politician* Ernst Emil Alexander Back , German physicist* Frédéric Back , Canadian animator...

 our team with rousing cheers.

Sound glories to the sky

And win or lose we'll always stay Loyal to Bexley High.

Onward Bexley

Onward Bexley, Onward Bexley, fight on for our fame

Send the ball right down the field, a touchdown every time. Rah! Rah! Rah!

Onward Bexley, Onward Bexley fight on for our fame.

Fight lions, fight and win this football game.

Notable alumni

  • Judah Folkman
    Judah Folkman
    Moses Judah Folkman was an American medical scientist best known for his research on tumor angiogenesis, the process by which a tumor attracts blood vessels to nourish itself and sustain its existence...

    , doctor & medical researcher
  • Bob Greene
    Bob Greene
    Robert Bernard Greene, Jr. is an American journalist. He worked for 24 years for the Chicago Tribune newspaper, where he was an award-winning columnist. Greene has written books on subjects varying from Michael Jordan, to small towns, to U.S. presidents. His Hang Time: Days and Dreams with Michael...

    , author
  • Josh Radnor
    Josh Radnor
    Joshua Michael "Josh" Radnor is an American actor, director, and writer, best known for portraying the main character Ted Mosby on the popular, Emmy Award-winning CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother, for which he has received worldwide fame and recognitions.He made his writing and directorial debut...

    , actor
  • R. L. Stine
    R. L. Stine
    Robert Lawrence Stine , known as R. L. Stine, and Jovial Bob Stine, is an American writer. Stine, who is called the "Stephen King of children's literature," is the author of hundreds of horror fiction novels, including the books in the Fear Street, Goosebumps, Rotten School, Mostly Ghostly, and The...

    , author
  • Les Wexner
    Les Wexner
    Leslie "Les" H. Wexner is an American businessman from Columbus, Ohio, and currently chairman and CEO of the Limited Brands corporation.-Professional:...

    , CEO of LTD
  • Captain Willard F. Searle, Jr
    Willard Franklyn Searle
    Capt. Willard Franklyn "Bill" Searle Jr. USN was an American ocean engineer who was principally responsible for developing equipment and many of the current techniques utilized in United States Navy diving and salvage operations.-Background:Searle was born 17 January 1924 in Columbus, Ohio...

    , USN, U.S. Navy Supervisor of Salvage from 1964 to 1969

External links

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